Urinary stones care
Your partner in kidney and bladder stone health
Urinary stones—whether they are located in the kidney, ureter, or bladder—can be a source of significant discomfort and concern. While all stones originate in the kidneys, their impact on your health and the necessary course of treatment are often determined by where they travel within your urinary system.
At Penn Medicine, our urologists are national leaders in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of all types of urinary stones. We combine advanced imaging technology with a personalized approach to care, ranging from "watchful waiting" and medication to the most sophisticated, minimally invasive surgical techniques available in the region. Whether you are dealing with a small stone that may pass naturally or a complex stone requiring expert surgical intervention, our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to providing a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and getting you back to a pain-free life.
Conditions we treat
Our approach to urinary stone care
From rapid diagnosis to the latest surgical breakthroughs, we provide a full spectrum of care for urinary stones. Our multidisciplinary team of urologists, kidney specialists, radiologists, and nurse navigators works together to ensure you receive the most effective treatment plan and specialized services for your unique condition, prioritizing your comfort and long-term recovery.
Penn urologists offer same-day kidney and bladder stone imaging for a fast, convenient diagnosis. Our doctors use advanced CT and ultrasound equipment to identify the size, shape, and location of stones.
Doctors often treat small bladder and kidney stones with medication and pain management. Your doctor may also recommend waiting to see if the stones resolve on their own. If your stones are small and safe to pass on their own, our urologists help you comfortably pass them with medication.
If you desire kidney stone removal or the stones are large, we provide every type of surgical treatment available. Our specialists give you all your options so you can choose the best treatment plan for you.
Our surgeons are skilled in minimally invasive surgery and nonsurgical treatments to remove stones, including ureteroscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). During ureteroscopy, doctors use thin, specialized instruments that are designed to move through the urinary tract, so you have no incisions. Shock wave therapy helps the stones pass naturally and requires no incisions or hospital stay.
Our doctors are also among the few in the Philadelphia region who perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This advanced surgery removes kidney stones that are large, complex, or resistant to other treatments. Our urology surgeons have expertise in this surgery, which requires advanced training.
Our comprehensive care at Penn includes specialists who help you keep kidney stones from coming back. We work closely with our dietitians, endocrinologists (hormone specialists) and nephrologists (kidney specialists) to ensure you receive complete care.
You have access to the latest urinary stone treatment breakthroughs at our academic hospital. Our experts conduct National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded trials on the cause of kidney stones, advanced imaging for diagnosis, and the impact of quality of life after kidney stone surgery.
Surgical and nonsurgical urinary stone treatments
If your unique urinary stones case does not respond to surveillance or medication, your provider may advise you to pursue a procedure for treatment. We offer a surgical, minimally invasive, and noninvasive treatment options designed to effectively remove kidney, ureter, and bladder stones and provide lasting relief.
While we often begin with ureteroscopy—a procedure where a tiny camera and laser are guided through the urinary tract to break up stones without incisions—our team is equally expert in advanced interventions like extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for more complex cases.
Fast appointments, convenient care
Penn urologists offer same-day kidney and bladder stone imaging for a fast, convenient diagnosis.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.